Graduate Program in Physics at UFSC, Florianópolis

The research conducted by Professor Alejandro Mendoza-Coto and student Vinicius Zampronio, both members of the postgraduate program at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), marks a significant advancement in the study of condensed matter. In collaboration with Italian scientists, they explored the properties of a “super-quasicrystal,” a phase of matter combining the characteristics of supersolids—materials that simultaneously exhibit rigidity and superfluidity—and quasicrystals, structures that are ordered but lack periodicity. Published in Physical Review Letters, this work not only expands the frontiers of basic physics but also offers promising insights into emerging technologies.

The discovery was illustrated through an artistic metaphor: imagine dysprosium atoms, known for their strong magnetic properties, arranged like eggs in a carton formed by a quasicrystalline lattice created with lasers. This structure exhibits unique properties, such as the “Bose glass” state, where atoms are trapped in specific positions due to the lattice’s strength, allowing superfluidity in localized regions. According to Mendoza-Coto, this behavior demonstrates how complex quantum states can emerge from interactions in aperiodic environments, paving the way for new methods of controlling matter.

Although theoretical, the research is experimentally feasible with current technologies. Mendoza-Coto and Zampronio highlight that the results may contribute to the development of innovative materials and advancements in quantum computing, a promising field that requires highly controlled states of matter. This contribution underscores the importance of condensed matter physics in understanding and manipulating new quantum states, cementing UFSC’s role as a center of excellence in scientific research.

Professor Ivan Helmuth Bechtold, a full professor in the Physics department at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (FSC/UFSC), has been elected as the President of the Brazilian Materials Research Society (SBPMat) for the term spanning 2024-2025. Notably, this marks the first time that a leader from the southern region of Brazil has chaired SBPMat, as all previous presidents hailed from the Southeast.

SBPMat is an organization that unites researchers from diverse fields, including Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Health Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Engineering, who are engaged in studies focused on the practical applications of materials. The annual flagship event of SBPMat, known as the Brazilian Materials Research Society (B-MRS), typically draws around 1,500 participants from across Brazil and various other countries.

For additional information, you can visit the SBPMat website, check out their Instagram, or contact Professor Ivan Bechtold via email at .

Every year, the city of Lindau in Germany hosts a meeting between Nobel Prize winners and young scientists. In the 2023 edition, which was dedicated to medicine, five Brazilian students were selected for the event. This year, the 2024 meeting will focus on physics. We are very proud to hear that our students, Carline Biesdorf and Cheryl Henkels, have been shortlisted by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC). It’s worth remembering that Brazil can only nominate four people in this edition, which means we get half the places! The PPGFSC congratulates the students and their advisors on this achievement!